KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Heavy rains, which battered the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia, flooded homes and displaced hundreds of families, are expected to continue until Thursday.

The good news is that the thunderstorms and strong winds in rain-saturated Penang, Perlis, Kedah and Perak will wane by the end of the week.

A Meteorological Department spokesman reassured the public that the rainfall pattern was normal.

He said the downpour, which started on Saturday, was caused by a low pressure system in the Gulf of Thailand.

Westerly and northwesterly winds blowing from the Indian Ocean picked up speed last week and moved through the northern parts of Peninsular Malaysia towards the low- pressure area.

These conditions were ideal for the formation of rain clouds, the spokesman said.

The trough of low pressure will move north and disappear by the weekend.

Until then, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts are warned of rough seas with wind gusts of up to 50kph and waves of up to 3.5 metres high.

The spokesman said the rough seas were dangerous to small boats and recreational activities.

The weather is expected to be sunny with occasional isolated showers throughout the country by Friday.